Property

I’m an estate agent and these are the five errors that newcomers make in France

In our new regular feature experts share their advice for avoiding common pitfalls when moving over

What changes for residents in France in March 2026

Major changes for drivers, hospital patients, and property owners

How much is second home insurance in France?

There is no legal obligation to insure a second home if it is a fully independent property

practical

Can I install chicken coop for my own eggs during shortage?

Coops are subject to taxes if over a certain size

What do you risk if you hire someone for work on your home and pay cash-in-hand?

Undisclosed payments cost French economy billions each year

294 French communes classified as natural disaster zones following flooding

Homeowners - including second homes - now have 30 days to make a catastrophe naturelle claim

House cracking threat spreads to new areas in France, putting 12 million properties at risk

Map from environment ministry shows more than half of country at risk

France’s home renovations grants relaunch: key points to know

MaPrimeRénov’ is once again available to households of all income levels

Did you know? These plants are forbidden in French gardens

Invasive species cannot be sold, planted, or exchanged

Home insurance increases expected in France after floods

Compensation costs for the recent storms and flooding across the west and south-west is estimated to be in the billions of euros

What are penalties for not conforming with new septic tank requirement?

Financial aid is available for homeowners needing to install new tanks

Are second homes in France a good investment?

Investment picture is variable depending on geographical location

See what €50,000, €200,000 and over €500,000 buys in Seine-Maritime

Towns and villages have distinct Norman French architecture

‘It’s becoming intolerable’: homeowners in France move north to escape the heat

Heatwaves becoming more regular and intense

Repayable-on-death equity release loans open again to non-EU retirees

Products have recently started being offered by bank group again after it paused them in 2019

I had no debits taken for French residential tax - what should I do?

Amounts taken depend on how much, and when, you are scheduled to pay

What the seller of a house in France must leave or remove

There are regulations in place for certain items, others can be subject to agreement

Can I charge electric vehicle when parked outside my home?

Rules on parking can also affect those looking to charge electric vehicles

Water-use restrictions lifted for some households in the Pyrénées-Orientales

Rainfall replenishes reservoirs but bans still remain in northern areas

See what €100,000, €500,000 and over €1m buys in Paris

The property market in the capital differs markedly from that of other French cities

Poor-quality fibre internet installations remain an issue in France

Stricter measures are announced to improve connection quality

Floor collapses in Paris building leaving 20 injured

Water leaking into the building from balcony is thought to be cause of collapse

French woman given one-year sentence for hiring men to evict squatter

Homeowner from south-west found guilty by Bordeaux criminal court

Is buying or renting property better in France?

Large variations in the respective costs exist between different regions

France’s ‘garden shed’ tax rates fall for first time in nine years: 2026 rates

Tax is paid on a per m² basis for many property improvements, with fixed values in place for some installations

How can I protect my second home in France from mice while I am away?

Pests can enter homes at any period

'I stopped going to the hairdresser for 12 years to save for my dream house in France'

La Maison de Wakefield is an 18th-Century stone house with four bedrooms and four bathrooms in Lot

Free fraud service for UK homeowners living in France

Owners can sign up for a free monitoring service from HM Land Registry to reduce risk of fraud

Do I need the devis to contest French builder’s bad job?

An estimate is a legal contract between you and the person doing the work

How to lower the amount you pay for insurance in France

‘Big three’ insurances all set to see costs rise in 2026

New DPE requirements affect 11 million flats in France

Certificates evaluate the energy performance of exterior walls, windows, roofs and shared areas

Electricity bills to remain stable for most homes in France, says government

Significant rises are not forecast for customers on regulated tariffs in next two years

How can I find out who the owner of a property is in France?

There are a few methods you can use to ascertain ownership

French property market: latest official statistics for 2025

Notaires have presented a ‘cautiously optimistic’ but still-mixed picture

Photos: our cosy and ecological home in the south of France

Reader Lucy Truscott, 49, describes how she and husband made a home for themselves in Hérault

Is ‘the good life’ still popular? What buyers of smallholdings in France look for

Self-sufficient living is still in demand

Taxe foncière: how to ask for delay, reduction, or cancellation of French property tax

Requests can be made even after the payment date has passed

See what €50,000, €150,000 and over €1m buys in Haute-Savoie

The mountainous department has international borders with Switzerland and Italy

Last day to benefit from free online call with a French notaire

‘Virtual fair’ provides opportunity to ask notaires about matters relating to property, inheritance etc

Hydroelectric conversions boost demand for historic French watermills

Laws on restoring rivers mean many are now threatened with removal

Buyer must compensate sellers after trying to change bid for French apartment

Court orders the buyer to pay compensation to sellers

Requirement to equip French homes with programmable thermostats postponed

Homeowners now have until 2030 to set up the devices

French home energy bills to rise in 2026

Both household electricity and gas bills will increase

Reduce temperature of French home by one degree to save money and even win gifts

One of several ways to reduce electricity usage – and bills – this winter

Local officials in south-west France search dumped bin bags to identify culprits

Around half of residents yet to collect access cards for new communal bins

More French towns put bans and taxes on new second homes

Mairies want to boost availability of housing for locals

What is notaire role in France other than property sales?

If you have bought property in France you will have dealt with one. But what else can they help with?

What are the rules for putting up cameras at my French home?

People have a right to install cameras, but must respect privacy laws

Property tax hike for 7.4 million homes in France postponed

Update of rates due to ‘comfort’ features such as inside toilets and sinks is deferred

'I have a 180-degree view of the sea – like living on a boat'

Vicki Jeynes fell in love with La Pagode, a unique house in the south of France, and fulfilled her dream of living by the seaside

‘Optimism’ for French property market as demand and prices increase

First-time buyers make up over half of all new mortgages as prices slowly rise

I want to sell French house but siblings do not: what can I do?

Buying siblings out may be possible

Can power of attorney be given to sell French home while abroad?

Several regulations were relaxed during the pandemic

How do septic tank inspections work in France?

The checks take place at least once every 10 years

Can I ask French police to check on my home when away in winter?

Rules are different for main and second homes

Asian hornet nests increase in France this autumn

Several deaths have been recorded in France from Asian hornet stings

Property owners’ tax to rise for 7.4 million French homes

Average increases are expected to be €63 and come after a reevaluation of ‘comfort features’ such as indoor toilets

Points to check before buying a property in France

Cracks, termites, electrical checks…what to look out for

Property owner in France fined €33,000 for unauthorised Airbnb rental

Airbnb ruling is the first of its kind in Lille

How one man built his dream cottage on a Brittany clifftop

Ambroise L’Hénoret tells the story of La Maison d’Ambroise, situated on a coastal path between Le Loc’h beach and Pors Loubous

French house prices rise again in second quarter of 2025

New figures show prices increased by 0.3% in second quarter

Property watch: see what €50,000, €250,000 and over €1m buys in Savoie

With ski slopes and lakes, this area is an idyllic spot

When should you avoid doing DIY in France

Columnist Nick Inman helps you decide when to contact - and to wait for - a professional

Bidding, fees – and candles: property auctions in France explained

We look at the two main types utilised by buyers

Are annual boiler checks obligatory in France?

Insurance companies may reference your boiler in their documentation

What is an SCI in France – and what are the tax and inheritance risks?

Mistakes made in setting up the structure may cause issues

French couple must change windows after complaint over transparency

Replacement windows were the same size but glass used was transparent not translucent

Energy efficiency ratings affect French property price by up to 25%, notaire data reveals

A ban on letting ‘G’ rated properties came into effect this year

Homeowner finds gold worth €700,000 buried in his French garden - and can keep it

Gold coins and ingots were discovered as he began digging to put in a pool

Six key points about 2025 French property market identified by notaires

Economic uncertainty and lack of investment threaten re-stablisation of market at wider level

Gironde residents offered grant of up to €150 to protect home from burglary

The initiatives began after a spike in the number of break-ins

French second homes: How capital gains tax abatement works (2025)

The tax exemption at sale depends on the time elapsed since the property was purchased

French second homes: tax-exemption time for capital gains may be reduced

MPs voted the bill through in a bid to improve housing market in high-demand areas

Must you clear fallen leaves from your garden outside your home in France?

In most cases it is not legal to burn leaves once they have been raked up

Are there duties payble on personal items when moving away from France?

A relief on customs duties is available for certain possessions